// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Unmanned Surface Vessel
An Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) is a boat or ship that operates on the surface of the water without a human crew onboard. It can be controlled remotely by an operator or navigate autonomously based on pre-programmed instructions and sensor data.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
An Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV), also known as an uncrewed or autonomous surface vehicle (ASV), is a robotic watercraft designed for maritime operations without onboard personnel. These naval assets are equipped with sensor suites, data links, and modular payloads for missions such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), mine countermeasures (MCM), and maritime security.
BACKGROUND
An unmanned surface vehicle, unmanned surface vessel or uncrewed surface vessel (USV), colloquially called a drone boat, drone ship or sea drone, is a boat or ship that operates on the surface of the water without a crew. USVs operate with various levels of autonomy, from remote control to fully autonomous surface vehicles (ASV).
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- drone ship
- autonomous surface vehicle
- ASV
- uncrewed surface vessel
- maritime drone
- robotic boat
- robot ship
USAGE NOTE
USVs are increasingly deployed for tasks considered too dull, dirty, or dangerous for traditional crewed naval platforms.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Unmanned Surface Vessel.
A major U.S. defense contractor that developed the Sea Hunter, a pioneering autonomous, long-endurance unmanned surface vessel for the U.S. Navy, designed for missions like anti-submarine warfare.
Developer of the Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV), a multi-mission platform used by the U.S. Navy for mine countermeasures, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Produces a range of autonomous and unmanned surface vehicles, such as the MAST-13, for military and commercial applications including surveillance, patrol, and threat detection.
A prime contractor for the U.S. Navy's Overlord Unmanned Surface Vessel (OUSV) program, leveraging its shipbuilding expertise to create large, autonomous naval platforms.
A French naval defense company that designs and manufactures USVs, including the Drix, an ocean-going drone for missions such as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and intelligence gathering.
A British multinational defense company that develops autonomous maritime technologies, including converting its Pacific 24 Rigid Inflatable Boat into an unmanned platform for the Royal Navy.
An Israeli defense technology company that produces the Seagull multi-mission USV, designed for a variety of naval operations including mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, and maritime security.
Develops unmanned and autonomous maritime systems, including the M-Cube mission management system and USV platforms like the Halcyon, designed for mine countermeasures and other naval roles.